Bid farewell to Qian Xuantong at the gate of the National Peking University, Zhou Shuren walked to his doorstep just as the melodious sound of a bell drifted from the distance. The bell rang nine times; it was nine o'clock at night. Zhou Shuren felt truly exhausted. By the time he returned home, his mother had already gone to bed. He washed up briefly, lay down, and fell asleep almost immediately.

At this moment, it was approximately 21:30. The first units of the Northeast Army to begin their outflanking and encirclement maneuvers against the Japanese had already been on the move for two hours.

For two hours, the officers and soldiers trudged through the mountainous terrain of Korea, deep one foot and shallow the next. Thanks to the hand-cranked flashlights, the troops were able to pass through dangerous sections relatively smoothly, even with only faint illumination.

The officers walked at the very front. The Battalion Commander of the 1st Battalion, 3rd Regiment, 1st Division of the 33rd Army saw that the time had come and they had entered a relatively flat section of the mountain path, so he ordered the troops to rest.

The signalman immediately took out his flashlight. The palm-sized flashlight had two sliding levers on the front panel. When both were down, the lens was unobstructed, emitting white light. Pushing up the left lever slid a transparent blue plastic sheet over the lens, and pushing up the right lever used a red transparent plastic sheet to emit red light.

Directly above the flashlight body was a flash switch button. Using these simple and clear components, the signalman quickly transmitted the signal and received a response from the column behind.

The entire battalion halted silently for a temporary rest. According to the infantry manual, in the absence of special instructions, the default rest period was ten minutes.

The Battalion Commander yawned and sat cross-legged against a nearby rock face. Beside him, the Battalion Chief of Staff pulled down a quarter-sphere lampshade over his flashlight lens, pressed the constant-on button, and examined the map by the light.

The quarter-sphere lampshade completely blocked the front of the lens, and the light, refracted internally by the shade, illuminated the map below. This was a requirement proposed by the 33rd Army based on issues encountered during night march drills. The solution provided by the Northeast Army's Equipment Expert Group was very effective. In actual tests conducted during night march training, as long as the distance from the enemy exceeded 150 meters, the enemy could not see the light reflected from the map on the ground.

If the blue transparent plastic sheet was pushed up, the light became a dim blue. Under conditions with cover, it was even possible to view the map within 50 meters of the enemy without being discovered.

Only the newly arrived recruits would make a fuss over this convenient and practical equipment; the officers had long since taken it for granted. For years, it had been the norm to listen to grassroots suggestions at Military Democracy Meetings, submit requirements to the military R&D department, and after the logistics department provided a solution, send the new equipment back to frontline units for testing. After several iterations, the new equipment would be finalized and rolled out to the whole army.

Once the ten minutes were up, the Battalion Commander stood up at the reminder of the timekeeping staff officer and ordered the signalman to send the signal. The signal from the rear units returned quickly; every company had received the order.

"All units, report count," the Battalion Commander ordered.

Company commanders relayed the order to platoon leaders, platoon leaders to squad leaders, and squad leaders executed it immediately. In these pitch-black mountains, the troop count was completed within three minutes. So far, no one had fallen behind.

There were still a few minutes of preparation time before moving out. As the troops adjusted their gear, the Battalion Commander asked the Battalion Chief of Staff, "Is the route correct?"

The staff officer pointed at the map: "No problems so far. However, according to the map, there are two consecutive forks within the next 500 meters. The troops should move slower."

Soon, every company received the signal to 'march at reduced speed' from the battalion signalman. The vanguard unit continued to advance under the Battalion Commander's lead.

***

The Northeast Army's outflanking troops were not the only ones going without sleep. Inside the Government-General of Korea building in Seoul, Nagata Tetsuzan, who had just finished a meeting, was relaying the content of the meeting to his two companions.

Governor-General of Korea Saito Makoto and Commander of the Japanese Army in Korea, General Oba Jiro, had stated at the meeting that they must defeat the invading Northeast Army and drive them back across the Yalu River.

Hearing this, Ishiwara Kanji let out a light chuckle, as if he had heard a great joke. Okamura Yasuji knew that Ishiwara believed this idea was completely impossible to realize, and Okamura shared that view. However, Okamura strongly disapproved of Ishiwara's contemptuous attitude. It was simply too frivolous.

Nagata Tetsuzan turned to Ishiwara Kanji and bowed slightly, "Ishiwara-kun, my apologies. I should have resolved your promotion issue before we departed. However, some officers in the Ministry of War are dilatory in their work. It was not until I attended the meeting today that it was confirmed: the Ministry of War has decided to promote you to Lieutenant Colonel."

Ishiwara Kanji was stunned. Although he was considered a thorn in the side, it didn't mean Ishiwara didn't want recognition from the system. Major was the standard rank for a graduate of the Army War College. Four years after graduation, Ishiwara was still a Major. He had prepared himself to wait until the final deadline—the unwritten rule that one must be promoted to Lieutenant Colonel six years after graduating from the Army War College—to receive his promotion.

To have the promotion issue resolved just three days after deciding to accept the invitation to come out of seclusion left Ishiwara with nothing but gratitude. He stood up and bowed, "Nagata-kun, my affairs have caused you too much trouble."

Because Japanese society was so intensely competitive, causing trouble for others was considered a grave sin. By saying this, Ishiwara expressed the greatest gratitude within his capacity to accept.

Nagata Tetsuzan didn't care about such trifles; he had dragged Ishiwara here to use his talents. Since Nagata intended to be the leader of the next generation of the Japanese Army, giving talented individuals their corresponding status was merely a basic operation. Having resolved Ishiwara's promotion, Nagata Tetsuzan ordered the orderlies at the Government-General to fetch two large thermoses of boiling water, then pulled a whole carton of Siping brand cigarettes from his luggage and tossed it onto the table.

The three men sat around the table, brewed strong tea, and Nagata asked, "What do you all think is the strategic goal the Northeast Army expects to achieve?"

Okamura Yasuji answered, "To weaken the national power of the Great Japanese Empire through war and force the Empire to sue for peace. To win strategic space for He-kun to unify China."

For Nagata and Ishiwara, this was already the determined strategic goal of the Northeast Army. Nagata was about to move to the next question when Ishiwara spoke up, "There are three major powers in Northeast Asia: Japan, China, and Soviet Russia. The Northeast has established good relations with Soviet Russia. In this war, only the Northeast and Japan are fighting; there is no possibility of external military intervention."

Okamura Yasuji paused; he had forgotten to consider the participants of this war from a comprehensive strategic perspective. But this wasn't entirely Okamura's fault. Previously, as Nagata visited various bigwigs, they inevitably asked for Nagata's judgment on the situation, and Okamura had heard Nagata explain this aspect many times. It had naturally been skipped over now.

Ishiwara Kanji, however, hadn't attended those meetings. He pointed this out directly from a strategic height. Okamura was deeply impressed by Ishiwara's reputation as a thorn and a toxic tongue who loved to make shocking statements, but he hadn't expected Ishiwara's academic foundation to be so solid when discussing strategic issues.

Nagata Tetsuzan felt no surprise. If Ishiwara didn't even have this ability, Nagata wouldn't have bothered with him. So Nagata continued to ask, "To achieve this goal, how far will He-kun fight?"

This time, Okamura found it difficult to answer. Over the past few days, Okamura couldn't conceive of any situation in which the Great Japanese Empire would sue for peace with the Northeast Army. So Okamura raised his own question, "He-kun has no navy; he cannot defeat the Empire no matter what. If the Empire loses Korea, it is even less likely to sue for peace. Does He-kun intend to seize all of Korea and exchange it with the Empire? I believe that if He-kun occupies all of Korea, the Empire will absolutely never open peace negotiations with him."

Ishiwara spoke up immediately, "Occupying all of Korea requires immense investment, from rail transport to grain requisitioning. From urban management to social order. He-kun cannot burden himself with such a huge load. The terrain in southern Korea is relatively flat, with many good harbors suitable for amphibious landings. Unless He-kun maintains 3 million troops in Korea, as long as here..."

As he spoke, Ishiwara turned the map in front of him, pushed it towards Nagata and Okamura, and tapped his finger heavily on Incheon. "As long as He-kun dares to send troops to Busan, the Imperial Navy will launch a massive landing here. With the Northeast Army's weak navy, they would collapse immediately."

Nagata nodded, "Ishiwara-kun has served in Korea, correct?"

Ishiwara nodded but said nothing. After graduating from the Academy, Ishiwara had served as a Second Lieutenant in Chuncheon, Korea. It was exactly when the Revolution of 1911 broke out. Upon hearing the success of the Wuchang Uprising, an excited Ishiwara had taken his small squad up a nearby mountain, fired his gun into the air, and shouted, "Long live the Republic of China!"

At that time, Ishiwara firmly believed that China and Japan, as important Asian nations, must move forward together and jointly cope with the pressure from the white race. They needed to join hands to prepare for the future world war.

After returning to Japan, Ishiwara read the military tabloid *The Soul of the Army* and learned that the deputy editor was a Chinese soldier named He Rui. He had run over impatiently to 'challenge the dojo'.

To this day, Ishiwara still believed that China and Japan must cooperate. But this did not affect Ishiwara's determination to fight to the death against the Northeast Army for the sake of the Great Japanese Empire.

Moreover, Ishiwara realized that hidden deep within his heart was a certain passionate joy. Letting go and fighting He Rui was a dream he had looked forward to. It was just that the annihilation of the 40,000 men of the Kwantung Army, and the ritual suicide of Lieutenant General Kawai Misao, who had been the Academy Principal for both Ishiwara and He Rui, made the cruel reality finally help Ishiwara understand just how brutal war could be.

Seeing Ishiwara did not answer, Nagata did not pursue the topic but continued to discuss the Northeast Army's strategic objectives from a strategic level. "I agree with Ishiwara-kun's view. So, where is the limit of the Northeast Army's use of force? At this meeting, General Oba Jiro, Commander of the Army in Korea, has obtained relatively accurate intelligence. The enemy facing the Army in Korea is about 3 to 4 corps. The Commander-in-Chief, as Ishiwara-kun predicted, is Major General Hu Xiushan."

Ishiwara reached out and drew a line across the Han River. "He-kun will likely use the Han River as the limit of his power. He is unlikely to truly cross the Han River to fight a decisive battle with our army in southern Korea. He will establish a defense line in the mountains north of Seoul and try to maintain the Han River line. If he cannot maintain it, he will simply abandon it. He-kun can then confront the Empire with fewer troops."

On the journey to Korea, Okamura Yasuji had frantically studied maps of Korea, while Ishiwara had either read other books or smoked in silence. Yet Okamura himself had thought left and right without being able to form a judgment, while Ishiwara seemed to make his judgment without even thinking.

Looking at the map of Korea before him and recalling Ishiwara's statement, Okamura realized this was indeed the optimal solution.

This confused Okamura a bit. There was a saying among those who knew Ishiwara that as long as the subject was military theory, philosophy of war, national strategy, or military strategy, Ishiwara could score first in the class without reading books or listening to lectures. Okamura had spent a massive amount of energy and time on these subjects and knew their difficulty well, so he had never believed such rumors.

But now, Okamura found his judgment slightly shaken.

Nagata Tetsuzan's view differed somewhat from Ishiwara's. "If He-kun does this, he will eventually be pushed back to the Yalu River by the Empire. The fighting strength of the Northeast Army He-kun has built is indeed very strong; fighting against an equal number of Imperial troops, they would not be inferior. However, if He-kun thinks that casualties and a protracted war alone can force the Empire to sue for peace, I'm afraid He-kun is being too naive."

Ishiwara was an Army man himself, yet hearing this, he felt a genuine disdain for the two 'Army deer' before him. So Ishiwara kept his mouth shut.

Okamura didn't notice at first; he was seriously considering the views of both Ishiwara and Nagata, trying to find an explanation that could accommodate both. After all, He Rui's actions indeed contained something very difficult to understand.

Of course, Okamura also understood that if he could truly grasp He Rui's train of thought, he would be able to judge the timing of He Rui's war against Japan.

But before long, Okamura noticed Ishiwara's silence. Okamura was very displeased with this attitude of confrontation. He simply fell silent as well.

Nagata, however, spoke calmly, "Ishiwara-kun, why not speak frankly? Do I look like an Army deer who flies into a rage at hearing a different opinion in Ishiwara-kun's eyes?"

Ishiwara was amused. Nagata Tetsuzan was always considered full of dignity, inspiring awe in those who looked upon him. Since Nagata had a humorous side, Ishiwara spoke straightforwardly, "What He-kun wants to shatter is not the Empire's face, but to shake the Empire's Continental Policy. As long as the Continental Policy is deemed impossible to realize, does the Empire have any reason to persist?"

Hearing this, Okamura was shocked, and anger rose spontaneously within him. He asked loudly, "Ishiwara-kun wants to change the Empire's national policy?"

Ishiwara had known exactly where his divergence with Okamura lay since he started hanging out with He Rui in 1914. Japan's ideological circles were currently filled with various ideas—Pan-Asianism, New Asianism—all of which involved Japan leading Asia towards rejuvenation.

However, matters related to strategy were extremely pragmatic. Japan's rise was largely due to China's actual division. This division hadn't started with the Republic; as early as when the Eight-Nation Alliance attacked China, the local Chinese provinces had organized the 'Southeast Mutual Protection', declaring they would not intervene in the war between the northern Manchu court and the Alliance. China had already been de facto divided.

Japan utilized China's division to earn massive benefits, especially strategic ones. Therefore, Japan's current national policy, the Continental Policy, had at its core the absolute refusal to accept China's unification. As long as China was unified, Japan's current strategic advantage would vanish into nothingness.

Ishiwara prided himself on being a strategist in his heart. Discussing strategy with He Rui, Ishiwara had learned geopolitics and political economy, and finally met someone to whom he was willing to truly bow his head. But within Japan, even facing Nagata Tetsuzan, Ishiwara didn't feel there was anything to be awed by.

Okamura Yasuji had always been a staunch supporter of Japan's current national policy. Seeing Ishiwara like this, he wanted to continue the argument. But Nagata spoke first, "I understand Ishiwara-kun's meaning. If so, it explains the reasons for He-kun's actions. Let us continue the discussion based on the limits of war power pointed out by Ishiwara-kun earlier."

Okamura admired Nagata immensely. Since he had spoken, Okamura had to compose himself and continue the previous analysis. Ishiwara, meanwhile, casually picked up a few thumbtacks and placed them on the map to represent the Japanese army.

With just this placement, Okamura suddenly saw the light. He wanted to speak but didn't know what to say. Nagata then said, "In that case, I will be responsible for organizing the defense of Seoul."

Ishiwara answered decisively, "I will go to Pyongyang."

Seeing both men calm and composed, the agitation in Okamura's heart subsided considerably. At this point, there really wasn't much left to say. If the strategic judgment of the three was correct, the Northeast Army's next target was to inflict heavy damage on the confronting Army in Korea.

Of course, there was nothing to fear. Since they understood the Northeast Army's strategy, they just needed to make corresponding arrangements. For instance, immediately withdraw the Army in Korea, hold the Pyongyang line, and at the same time send an urgent request for reinforcements to the Japanese mainland, asking for immediate dispatch of troops to Seoul to build a defense line on the Han River in the south, forming a pincer position with Pyongyang in the north.

No matter how brave and battle-hardened the Northeast Army was, the Japanese army could easily dissolve this wave of offensive with arrangements based on strategy.

But the current Governor-General of Korea and the Commander of the Army in Korea were both old men. Before long, they would return to Tokyo, transfer to the reserves, and enjoy their old age. Facing the Northeast Army's offensive, these two obviously hadn't considered the problem from a strategic angle, but from their own.

If Commander Oba Jiro, facing the Northeast Army's attack, sent troops to resist in waves while the main force retreated slowly, waiting for reinforcements from the mainland to achieve a standoff with the Northeast Army, Commander Oba Jiro would be a sinner who 'avoided battle when encountering the enemy, lost troops and generals, and lost national territory'. The troops sent to resist in waves would likely face disaster; with the slightest carelessness, it wouldn't be strange for them to be swallowed whole.

With such a huge responsibility, Commander Oba Jiro would probably be relieved of duty immediately, return to Tokyo to the reserves, and then retire in disgrace. Being captured would be a lifelong stain. As for Governor-General Saito Makoto, an Admiral, he wouldn't fare much better; likely the same fate.

It wasn't that these two lacked insight. But their positions determined that for their own sake, they had to send the main force to fight the Northeast Army...

Okamura knew there was no room to salvage the situation. Thinking briefly about what he could do, he said, "I will organize the retreat work from Seoul to Pyongyang."

Seeing his close comrade Okamura somewhat dispirited, Nagata comforted him, "We are only preparing for the worst. There are many strategists in Tokyo; they should be able to consider these things. We just have to wait one more day, and orders from Tokyo will likely arrive."

Hearing this, Ishiwara couldn't help but chuckle again.

Before his laughter faded, footsteps sounded outside. The communications officer of the Government-General knocked and entered, delivering a fresh telegram to Nagata Tetsuzan. Nagata didn't look at it but just dismissed the officer.

Although Nagata was nominally the Vice Minister of Munitions for the Army in Korea, he was sent from Tokyo, an imperial envoy. The Army in Korea naturally wouldn't hand over their work to them, but the latest war reports would be delivered immediately.

Nagata walked between Ishiwara and Okamura, opened the telegram, and placed it on the table. The three looked at the telegram simultaneously. Soon, Nagata stubbed out his cigarette, adjusted his uniform and bearing, and said, "Let's go. We're going to see the Commander."

Ishiwara followed suit, adjusting his uniform. The telegram indicated that the Army in Korea had launched a night attack against the Northeast Army, and had run head-on into Northeast Army units that had also launched a night attack. A fierce battle had erupted between the two sides.

According to what Nagata had just said, if the Ministry of War ordered the Army in Korea to retreat and defend, they could still retreat leisurely. Now that battle had broken out, the Army in Korea could no longer withdraw.